Device for separating individual labels from a stack of labels

ABSTRACT

A device for separating individual labels from a stack of labels which is caused to move downwardly in an inclined feed channel against a movable pressure plate and an abutment engaging the lower edge of the stack. A pivotally mounted suction head has a curved outer surface is caused to roll along the foremost label on the stack to lift the upper edge of the label, whereupon a wedgelike member equipped with air blast channels is inserted in the gap formed between the lifted edge of the label and the stack to completely separate the label from the stack. The separated label is ejected by conveyor rollers downwardly from the device.

nited States Patent Inventor Pierre Luginbuhl Neuhausen Am Rheinfall, Switzerland Appl. No. 876,851 Filed Nov. 14, 1969 Patented June 1, 1971 Assignee Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft Neuhausen Am Rheinlall, Switzerland Priority Nov. 19, 1968 Switzerland 17236/68 DEVICE FOR SEPARATING INDIVIDUAL LABELS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,187,435 6/1916 Lightburne 271/28 1,893,778 1/1933 Klemm 271/29 Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit Att0rneySinger, Stern & Carlberg ABSTRACT: A device for separating individual labels from a stack of labels which is caused to move downwardly in an inclined feed channel against a movable pressure plate and an abutment engaging the lower edge of the stack. A pivotally mounted suction head has a curved outer surface is caused to roll along the foremost label on the stack to lift the upper edge ng of the label, whereupon a wedgelike member equipped with US. Cl 271/29 air blast channels is inserted in the gap formed between the Int. Cl B6511 3/10 lifted edge of the label and the stack to completely separate Field of Search 271/29, 32, the label from the stack. The separated label is ejected by con- 28, 3O veyor rollers downwardly from the device.

i f" I l y 7 Q l f l x Z6 )1 t y, 2 2 a 5 15' M 1 a l l I 1 PAW-mm mu SHEET 1 [IF 3 PATENIED JUN 1 I97! SHEET 2 Gr" 3 PATENTEU JUN 1 |97l SHEET 3 BF 3 DEVICE FOR SEPTTNG INDIVIDUAL LABELS FROM A STACK 01F LABELS The invention relates to a device for the individual separation of labels which are conveyed standing upright in a stack on a conveyor to a final stop member.

Devices for the individual separation of labels are generally known. They operate for the most part with slide members or with friction rolls which strip off the foremost label of the stack at a time or they operate with suction cups which grasp these labels and lift them from the stack. Such devices have certain disadvantages. If they operate with friction rolls, the danger often exists that not only one but several labels are torn off at the same time. Devices with slide members and suction cups operate for the most part relatively slowly.

The invention has the object of furnishing a device of the mentioned type which does not have the above named disadvantage.

The device of the invention is characterized by a swin gable and rotatable suction head having a curved outer surface which during its swinging movement rolls along the foremost label of the stack for lifting the upper edge of the label from the stack by means of suction, and a blower and supporting wedge which is insertable between the lifted edge of the label and the stack and is connected to a source of compressed air for the complete lifting of the foremost label from the stack and from anend abutment by means of a jet of compressed air whereupon the separated label is ejected from the device by conveyor rollers.

The drawings illustrate diagrammatically by way of example an embodiment of the device of the invention.

The FIGS. 1 to 3 show each a side view of the device partially in section, in three different operative positions,

FlG. d is a plan view of the device in the operating position illustrated in H0. ll.

Referring to the drawings, the device is provided with a conveyor in the form of an inclined feed channel l, which comprises a fixed bottom part 2 and in alignment therewith an inclined movable bottom part 3.

in this feed channel 1, is located the stack of labels 4. The individual labels 5, accordingly, stand perpendicularly to the bottom parts 2, 3. The movable bottom part 3 in known manner is pivotally connected with two lengthwise spaced parallel levers 6. The levers 6 are mounted on shafts 7, which perform a swinging movement. The movable bottom part 3, therefore, performs a reciprocating movement indicated by the double arrow 8 so that the stack of labels is fed against an end abutment 2a provided on the forward edge of the fixed bottom part 2. The feed movement will be supported by the effect of the specific gravity of an upright supporting wall 10 which engages the rear end of the stack of labels and travels on rolls 9. (H6. 3).

in front of the stack 4 is arranged a suction head 11. The latter is constructed segment-shaped in cross section and has a curved outer surface 12 which is intended to abut or lie against the foremost label 5 of the stack 4 and to roll along the same. From the curved outer surface 12 a few bores 13 lead to a central bore M which by a flexible hose 17 is connected to a source of suction air. The suction head 11 has an axial extension lllla (H6. 4) and a pin 11b which is swingably positioned in a sleeve 115. The sleeve is attached to one end of a lever llo whose other end has a boss 18 which is secured against rotation on a shaft 19. The shaft 19 is journaled in a hollow shaft 2t) which on its part is swingably positioned in a housing 21, only indicated. On the hollow shaft 20 is rigidly secured a boss 22 on which a toothed segment 23 is arranged. The latter engages a gear wheel 24 which is fixably secured to the pin Mb of the suction head 11 projecting beyond the sleeve 15. By means of this arrangement the suction head part lll, lllla, 1112, on the one hand, may perform a movement between the points A and B (FlGS. l and 2) and, on the other hand, may oscillate about its longitudinal axis.

A shaft 25 has fixedly secured thereto a lever 26 which carries a blower and supporting-wedge 27. The shaft 25 is also swingably mounted in the housing 21. The supporting-wedge 27 has nozzle bores 28 directed against its front edge. The latter are connected with their inner ends to a transverse bore 29 which is connected with a flexible compressed airhose 30. (F IG. 4i).

On a third shaft 31 which is swingably mounted in the housing 21 above the shafts I19 and 25 is fixedly secured the upper end of a lever 32 which carries at its lower end a pressure plate 32a which has the object of being pressed periodically against the front side of the stack 4.

The device is furthermore provided with a pair of oppositely arranged conveyor rollers 33, 34 which has the object of ejecting the individual labels into a downwardly leading guide channel 35.

The modus operandi of the described device is as follows:

At the beginning of each operating cycle, the pressure plate 32 lies against the front end of the stack 4 and receives the pressure exerted by the stack arranged in the inclined feed channel 1. The suction head llll will be disposed in the position A (FIG. ll). lt contacts with its curved outer surface 12 the upper edge of the foremost label 5 and sucks the same tightly to it. Now the shaft 19 swings the lever 16 with the suction head 11 into the position B. The toothed segment 23 is, however, not moved. in this way, the curved surface 12 of the suction head rolls down on the label 5 and swings its upper edge outwardly, so that between the same and the stack 4 a gap is formed. By an oscillation of the shaft 25 the blowerand the supporting-wedge 27 is now inserted in this gap. The wedge urges the stack somewhat away from the curved surface 12 of the suction head Ill and supports it, while at the same time the pressure plate 32a is swung away from the stack. This phase is shown in FIG. 2.

By means of a short air jet coming from the nozzle bores 28, the foremost label 5 is completely released from the stack 4 and its lower edge of the label 5 is lifted above the abutment 20.

Now, by means of a rotation of the hollow shaft 20 with the boss 22, the toothed segment 23 is swung downward, so that the suction head 11 rotates about its axis in the position shown in FIG. 3. The lower edge of the label 5 in this manner is moved between the conveyor rollers 33, 34 and seized by the same. Thereby, the label is ejected through the guide channel 35. During this last phase the pressure plate 32a, the suction head 11 and the blowerand supporting-wedge 27 are again moved back into their starting position, so that a new operating cycle may begin.

The drive for the shafts W, 25, 31 and of the hollow shaft 20 is not illustrated but may be constructed in any desired known manner, for example, by means of cam wheels.

What I claim is:

1. Device for separating individual labels from a stack of labels which contains the labels in an upright position and is fed toward an abutment, comprising a swingable and rotatable mounted suction head having a curved outer surface rolling during its swinging movement along the foremost label of the stack for lifting the upper edge of the label from the stack by means of suction, a pivotally mounted blowerand supportingwedge connected to a source of compressed air insertable between the lifted upper edge of the foremost label and the stack for the complete lifting of said foremost label from said stack and from said abutment by means of a jet of compressed air, and means including conveyor rollers for ejecting the individual labels separated from said stack.

2. Device according to claim 1, including a pivotally mounted pressure plate for engaging the front face of said stack of labels, and means for removing said pressure plate from the foremost label during the insertion of the blowerand supporting-wedge in the gap formed between the lifted upper edge of said label and said stack.

3. Device according to claim ll, including a pivot pin for said suction head, said pivot pin being rotatably supported in a sleeve to which is attached a pivot lever, said pin carrying a gear wheel meshing with a toothed segment swingable independently of said pivot lever.

4. Device according to claim 1, including means forming a feed channel for the stack of labels, said channel being downwardly inclined toward said abutment and having an oscillatable bottom portion. and a freely movable upright sup- 

1. Device for separating individual labels from a stack of labels which contains the labels in an upright position and is fed toward an abutment, comprising a swingable and rotatable mounted suction head having a curved outer surface rolling during its swinging movement along the foremost label of the stack for lifting the upper edge of the label from the stack by means of suction, a pivotally mounted blower- and supporting-wedge connected to a source of compressed air insertable between the lifted upper edge of the foremost label and the stack for the complete lifting of said foremost label from said stack and from said abutment by means of a jet of compressed air, and means including conveyor rollers for ejecting the individual labels separated from said stack.
 2. Device according to claim 1, including a pivotally mounted pressure plate for engaging the front face of said stack of labels, and means for removing said pressure plate from the foremost label during the insertion of the blower- and supporting-wedge in the gap formed between the lifted upper edge of said label and said stack.
 3. Device according to claim 1, including a pivot pin for said suction head, said pivot pin being rotatably supported in a sleeve to which is attached a pivot lever, said pin carrying a gear wheel meshing with a toothed segment swingable independently of said pivot lever.
 4. Device according to claim 1, including means forming a feed channel for the stack of labels, said channel being downwardly inclined toward said abutment and having an oscillatable bottom portion, and a freely movable upright supporting wall provided with rollers arranged within said inclined channel and engaging the rear face of said stack of labels. 